Staff Member At Sandburg Charged With Unlawful Grooming

ORLAND PARK, IL — An educational support staff member at Sandburg High School has been charged with unlawful grooming after police said he sent inappropriate text messages to a minor. The case that has nothing to do with his employment at the high school in Orland Park, police added, and the minor is not a Sandburg student.

Eric Kruger, 34, of Oak Forest was charged by Orland Park police on Wednesday — two days after the investigation into a minor having inappropriate contact with an adult began, police said in a news release. He was taken into custody at his home without incident and charged with a Class 4 felony, according to police.

Police said Kruger sent inappropriate messages to the minor over a period of several months. Police did not release the minor's age.

Kruger is set to appear for his bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bridgeview courthouse.